Down one quart of oil, then put a quart in it, now it's a quart too full

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Tangent

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I have no clue how I managed to mess this up. I dipped the dipstick twice, and it was down a quart both times, a few days ago. I figured I was burning oil or something so I put another quart in it.

Now this morning it is a quart too full, so I need to figure out how to drain one quart. Im 1500 miles away from it needing to be changed, but I may go 'ahead and get it changed anyway since I screwed it up.
 

Dean2

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Couple of things, if you checked the oil right after shutting it off you can easily have a quart that hasn't drained back to the pan. It takes over an hour, I always check mine just before startup in the morning. As far as draining oil, I would just do the oil change early, putting a drain plug back in while oil is pouring out pretty much guarantees a mess. Dumping the filter a couple of times is a far less messy option but since I try to have fresh oil in a new filter when I put it on, putting an empty filter on a couple of times to drain a quart doesn't seem like a spectacular idea to me.
 
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Tangent

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if you checked the oil right after shutting it off you can easily have a quart that hasn't drained back to the pan. It takes over an hour, I always check mine just before startup in the morning.
Ah HA! Thats exactly what I did. I've never done that before, either. Thank you!
 

jws123

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This is just my opinion but I always over fill my truck ab half a qt because it burns a little oil il never run it low this way. I do this with with all my vehicles never a issue not sure why people always get bent out of shape over being a little over filled doesn't hurt anything.
 
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Jeepwalker

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If you have (or buy) an inexpensive suction gun, which you can get at about any parts store, it just takes a couple minutes.

Go to the hardware store and get like 4' of thin clear plastic hose that'll fit down your dipstick tube. Adapt it to the suction gun hose (adapter fittings, etc), and draw some oil out. It's easier when the oil is somewhat warm (not hot). I've had to do this before with tranny fluid I filled a little too high. Takes a couple easy minutes, won't harm anything.


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turkeybird56

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Change the oil. Do not play filter games. As an alternative, U could play the drain bolt game where U loosen most of the way and let small enuf drain out, but if U not careful, U may pull that bolt and have 7 , in your case 8 quarts all over the place. Just get a new filter and oil and change: Cannot hurt except for some $$$$, definitely a good thing for truck, IMHO.
 

Dean2

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This is just my opinion but I always over fill my truck ab half a qt because it burns a little oil il never run it low this way. I do this with with all my vehicles never a issue not sure why people always get bent out of shape over being a little over filled doesn't hurt anything.
Your vehicles are using oil BECAUSE you have it over filled. Too much oil causes quite a number of different issues, including but not limited to high pressure, poor lube, oil leaks and ring bypass. Go back to filling to the right level and your oil consumption issue will go away. Check your oil more often and fill as required. A half quart too little is better than too much.
 

Jeepwalker

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Or, just put on a latex glove and loosen the drain plug ...hold onto it, pull it slightly out and let some oil drizzle into the drain pan -- about a qt. Reinstall drain plug. It's a 5min job. Won't flow out as fast if you do it when engine is 'cold'. Little messy, but so what?
 

Wild one

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I wouldn't worry about it being a qt over full.Run it till it's oil change time,then put the proper amount in.Just don't bury your foot through the floor boards constantly and it won't harm anything for the next 1500 miles
 

co-pilot

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I wouldn't worry about it being a qt over full.Run it till it's oil change time,then put the proper amount in.Just don't bury your foot through the floor boards constantly and it won't harm anything for the next 1500 miles
I Have to disagree with this........ Actually IMO a quart low is better than a quart over!!
 

Wild one

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I Have to disagree with this........ Actually IMO a quart low is better than a quart over!!
Then we'll have to agree to disagree then,lol. There's a windage tray under the crank,so a qt overfull isn't going to hurt anything.Oil foaming,not happening with a windage tray,maybe if he was a couple quarts overfull,but not with just 1 quart,lol
 

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Because i happen to have one of those suction guns & clear hose, i would draw off a quart.

If you are adventurous, you can make a mess & pull the drain plug

If you can afford the oil & filter, just do the oil change

I used to save my oil that was caught by my Catch Can & use it for other things, but 7 quarts is more than i would ever use
 

demonram

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This is just my opinion but I always over fill my truck ab half a qt because it burns a little oil il never run it low this way. I do this with with all my vehicles never a issue not sure why people always get bent out of shape over being a little over filled doesn't hurt anything.
I don't know how much affect a half quart will have but the reason for not over filling is because being too full will cause the oil to foam up and not lubricate. But, it's your ride, do as you think best.
 

Jeepwalker

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I don't know how much affect a half quart will have but the reason for not over filling is because being too full will cause the oil to foam up and not lubricate. But, it's your ride, do as you think best.

I thought the OP said it was 1 qt high.

I would pull some out (personally), but either way the sun will rise tomorrow in the East, and set (presumably) in the West. The truck will likely survive. If not, a $6500 check should be enough to correct matters.
 
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turkeybird56

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You guys quit fighting or else I'm buying a Ford. :/ Derp!

I went ahead and got it changed.
Outstanding sir, in my extreme lowly liked and Humble Opinion, good choice !!!!!
 

turkeybird56

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It was the right call. Oil isn't that expensive and 1500 miles early hurts nothing.
TRUCK might get spoiled and demand more frequent oil changes, lets go back to the 70's, every 3,000 miles, yeah yeah, with the lil remind me to get oil changed sticker in the upper left hand top of windshield (anybody remember those silly stickers) !!!
 

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